Cardinals' Fitzgerald on prime-time tilt: 'I hate Thursday football'

GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 29: Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald #11 of the Arizona Cardinals during the NFL game against the San Francisco 49ers at the University of Phoenix Stadium on December 29, 2013 in Glendale, Arizona. The 49ers defeated the Cardinals 23-20. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Larry Fitzgerald

A short work week is not sitting well with the Arizona Cardinals, who will host the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday night in a clash of NFC division leaders.

"I hate Thursday night football, to be blunt with you," Cardinals leading wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald said Tuesday in a conference call with Minnesota reporters. "We got guys that ... probably two guys on each team this week, if we were playing on Sunday, they would probably would have been able to go.

"So you just don't get the time to recover from the injuries that you sustain the week before, and it's just tough," Fitzgerald added.

It could be worse, admitted Fitzgerald, who noted that the short week is more of a disadvantage for the NFC North co-leading Vikings since they have to spend a day traveling.

"No doubt," Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer said. "I don't know when (the Vikings) leave, if you come out two days early or one day early. But no doubt, it's an advantage being at home."

Palmer is not totally against the concept of playing on Thursday night, calling it both a "blessing and a curse." While a lack of recovery time and preparation are obvious drawbacks, Palmer noted the benefits of having 10 days off until the next game.

"I don't hate them because you get a long weekend off and you get those four extra days," said Palmer, who needs one touchdown pass Thursday night to tie Kurt Warner for the franchise single-season record with 30.